～ためだ・～ため（に）（原因） — Because of; due to | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

Use it for an objective cause followed by a factual result, especially in notices and written language. In everyday conversation から／ので is more natural before a personal request or wish; formal notices can state decisions or requests after ため: 雨のため、試合を中止します. Do not confuse it with purposive ～ために ‘in order to’.

Formation

V plain form／い-adjective＋ため（に）
な-adjective＋な／である＋ため（に）・N＋の／である＋ため（に）

When to use it

Where to use it: It fits an actual or objectively expected outcome: a delay, cancellation, consequence of a state, or official explanation.
Where not to use it: In casual speech から／ので is more natural before a personal wish, invitation or request. Formal decisions and notices are fine: 雨のため、試合を中止します.

Examples

20 sentences

大雪おおゆきのため、空港くうこうは朝あさから閉鎖へいさされている。
Because of heavy snow, the airport has been closed since morning.
信号しんごうの故障こしょうのために、電車でんしゃに三十分さんじゅっぷんの遅れおくれが出でた。
A signal failure caused the train to be delayed by thirty minutes.
昨夜さくやよく眠れねむれなかったため、会議中かいぎちゅうに何度なんどもあくびが出でた。
Because I did not sleep well last night, I yawned repeatedly during the meeting.
道みちが凍っこおっていたため、配達はいたつのトラックが坂さかを上れのぼれなかった。
Because the road was frozen, the delivery truck could not climb the hill.
この町まちの祭りまつりは有名ゆうめいであるため、毎年まいとし多くおおくの客きゃくが訪れるおとずれる。
This town's festival is famous, so many visitors come every year.
月つきが水面すいめんに鏡かがみのように映っうつったのは、海うみが静かしずかだったためだ。
The moon was reflected on the water like a mirror because the sea was calm.
猫ねこが鍵かぎの上うえで寝ねていたため、家いえを出るでるのが遅くおそくなった。
The cat was sleeping on my keys, so I left home late.
準備じゅんびが十分じゅうぶんでなかったために、発表はっぴょうで大切たいせつな数字すうじを間違えまちがえた。
Because I was not sufficiently prepared, I got an important number wrong during the presentation.

12 more examples

この洞窟どうくつは危険きけんなため、専門家せんもんか以外いがいは入れはいれません。
Because this cave is dangerous, no one except specialists may enter.
強風きょうふうのため、屋上おくじょうの星空観察会ほしぞらかんさつかいは中止ちゅうしとなりました。
Because of strong winds, the rooftop stargazing event has been canceled.
台風たいふうが来きたため飛行機ひこうきが飛べとべませんでした
A typhoon arrived, so the plane could not take off.
雪ゆきが多いおおいため道みちが通れとおれません
There is a lot of snow, so the road is impassable.
住所じゅうしょが間違っまちがっていたため荷物にもつが届きとどきませんでした
The address was wrong, so the parcel did not arrive.
道みちが狭いせまいため車くるまが入れはいれません
The road is narrow, so cars cannot get through.
事故じこのため電車でんしゃが止まりとまりました
There was an accident, so the train stopped.
仕事しごとが忙しいいそがしいため旅行りょこうに行けいけません
Work is busy, so I cannot go on a trip.
機械きかいが故障こしょうしたため工場こうじょうが休みやすみになりました
The machinery broke down, so the factory stopped operating.
この説明せつめいが複雑ふくざつなため子どもこどもには分かりわかりません
This explanation is complicated, so children cannot understand it.
雨あめが続いつづいたため川かわの水みずが増えふえました
The rain continued, so the water level in the river rose.
停電ていでんのためパソコンが使えつかえませんでした
There was a power cut, so we could not use the computer.

Important notes

Causal ため is usually more formal than ので and often accompanies an unfavorable result, though negativity is not required.

Common mistakes

Do not read every Vるために as cause; with a controllable action and goal it may mean 'in order to.'
A noun normally requires の in the causal use: 大雪のため.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: この洞窟どうくつは危険きけんなため、専門家せんもんか以外いがいは入れはいれません。 A landslide caused by heavy rain made the mountain road impassable.This sign is here to prevent accidents.Because this cave is dangerous, no one except specialists may enter.
Sentence 2: 事故じこのため電車でんしゃが止まりとまりました There was an accident, so the train stopped.The bus was delayed by a traffic jam caused by an accident.I went to the mountains in order to take pictures.
Sentence 3: 停電ていでんのためパソコンが使えつかえませんでした There was a power cut, so we could not use the computer.A prolonged power outage caused problems with the aquarium's equipment.I am going to Japan in order to study Japanese.